R.L. Herron's Blog

Being an author starts with a simple fact: If you’re not making the time to write, no other advice can help you

Which is probably why so many of the writers I talk to seem preoccupied with time-management. Many authors need to put blinders on, finding ways to simplify their experience and reduce the number of potential distractions. That might mean consistently keeping a single two-hour window sacred to ward off imagination derailment. Ultimately, the literary exercise […]

Writing During the Holidays

  Make a Goal for Yourself Writing during the holidays can be difficult. Who has time to write when you could be stuffing your face with pie or relaxing watching a Christmas movie? Making a goal for your writing can help with the slump you may find yourself in. Pick out a goal for yourself; […]

Unlikely Character Friendships Strengthen Story

There’s something about unlikely friendships that hook our attention. It’s a fascination that seems to be fairly universal, because you see it virtually everywhere. Why? The tension that emerges from the combination of the unexpected certainly creates compelling interactions between characters, but I think there’s more going on than that. Unlikely friendships are an embodiment […]

I’m Still Here

I realize it’s been a while since I posted. It’s not because I have nothing to say, but sometimes it feels that way. Every time I sit down to write, I’m aware of the latest news reports, talking about the virus that’s been plaguing our planet for almost two years, or the sad political commentary […]

Dialogue

Dialogue Instantly Reveals Your Skill as a Writer Bad dialogue signals the work of an amateur who has failed to grasp the mechanics of speech, while good dialogue illuminates your characters, moves your plot forward, develops relationships, and opens a window into the story. However, creating good dialogue is hard work. It takes a lot […]

Focus on the Story

********** You’re invited to visit my author’s website, BROKEN GLASS to hear the remarkable radio interview about my novel “Blood Lake” on The Authors Show, or see my three local television interviews. You can also like my Book of Face page, find me on Goodreads, or follow my shorter ramblings on The Twitter. ********** Comments […]

2021 – A Year for Innovation

For me, and many other indie authors, the global pandemic meant no in-person book launches. No speaking honorariums. No presentations at book industry events. Last year had a very sparse feeling to it. So, to try and keep things moving, I explored virtual readings, interviews and presentations. It wasn’t the same, but it helped. Many […]

Holiday Writing During the 2020 Pandemic

What? It’s Almost December? When time becomes hazy and slippery, as it has for many of us during our almost year-long quarantine, it can stop being the primary force by which we organize our lives. Think about it. Beginnings and endings, of just about everything, become harder to pinpoint, and our internal narrative structure changes. […]

Fiction in the Pandemic

Literary arts have long served as humanity’s means of processing reality. But as we reel from continued global crises, what stories are going to emerge from these odd and troubled times? As our own reality changes, what happens to the world a writer imagines? With so many of the arts hobbled by the pandemic, fiction […]

Tips for Generating Great Book Ideas

2020 has been a weird year, that’s for sure. Like me, you may have been having trouble concentrating on your writing. Just remember…when it comes time to start, don’t overthink things. Keep it simple. Whether you’re staring down writer’s block, or find yourself overwhelmed by too many good ideas, here are some thoughts to get […]